German officials allege Ukrainian diver Volodymyr Zhuravlev linked to Nord Stream blasts

German authorities have accused Ukrainian scuba diver Volodymyr Zhuravlev of participating in the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream natural‑gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea. The allegation, released by the Federal Police, states that Zhuravlev, a former member of a Ukrainian special‑forces unit, was part of a team that planted explosive devices on the pipelines in 2022. The police claim that the diver used his expertise in underwater operations to gain access to the submerged infrastructure and that the devices were detonated in a coordinated effort to disrupt gas supplies to Europe.

The claim follows a series of investigations into the Nord Stream sabotage that began in 2023, during which German and Danish authorities examined evidence from the wreckage and intercepted communications. While the German prosecutor’s office has not yet presented the full evidence to the public, it has indicated that the investigation is ongoing and that additional suspects may be identified. Zhuravlev, who was reportedly living in Germany at the time of the alleged activity, has denied the accusations and has not yet been charged.

If the allegations are proven, they would represent a rare instance of a foreign national being implicated in a major energy infrastructure attack on German soil. The German government has reiterated its commitment to investigating the incident thoroughly and to ensuring the security of its energy supply chains. The case is expected to unfold over the coming months as authorities continue to gather forensic and intelligence data.